Meeting with former president of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma

Belarus will do its utmost to help bring the situation in Ukraine back to normal, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with former president of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma on 31 July.

“We will do what ought to be done. Do not read or listen to those who say that it is about publicity moves and image. We do not need it. You know it very well. I do not stand being a mediator. Together we will do everything for our Ukraine in order to ease the tensions in the eastern part of the country. We are very interested in it,” the Belarusian President said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized the importance of the Belarus-Ukraine cooperation. He noted that the bilateral trade reached $6-7 billion as early as during the presidency of Leonid Kuchma.

“It is vitally important for Belarus; publicity moves have nothing to do with it. Nobody uses tragedy for a publicity stunt. Therefore you can be rest assured that we will arrange as many events as needed for the group you work with,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

The Belarusian head of state noted that during the recent phone conversation with Ukraine’s President Piotr Poroshenko, the parties discussed in detail the issues facing Ukraine. “He asked me to facilitate the work of your group. When he said that you would represent Ukraine, I was really glad. According to our embassy, you are actively involved in the efforts to ease the tensions and stabilize the situation in Ukraine. I am glad that your experience came in handy,” the Belarusian leader said.

“Today the presidents of Ukraine (a president is always a president) should get involved in this process and make their personal contribution to the stabilization of the situation in our Ukraine. When Piotr Poroshenko asked me to arrange this event on a very decent level, I told him that we would do everything to improve the situation in Ukraine,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Leonid Kuchma, in turn, noted that Ukraine is going through hard times. “The question is as simple as that: will Ukraine continue to be or not. The developments of the past months raise more questions than provide answers. There are still no answers. We have come here to get some answers. We will try to find them with your assistance and with God’s help,” he noted.